Railroad-tie.



P. V- TROUPE. RAILROAD THE. APPLICATION FILED iwmza. I916.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

PAUL v. 'rnourngo'r GARY, sou'rrr DAKOTA.

'isoavei.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL V. TROUIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gary, in the county of Deuel and" State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled bine the advantages of the ordinary type of wooden tie with those of the metallic tie thereby increasing the length of life of ties and yet provide a device which may be easily and cheaply constructed of any suitable metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for retaining the wooden cushioning blocks in the ties which will prevent the same becoming loosened and falling out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie having a roughened upper surface to aid traction thereon of vehicles crossing the track. 7 A further and more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of means to limit inward movement of the cushioning blocks so that the same will be firmly retained in position.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tie constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the tie showing the rail in place, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal view through one end of the tie illustrating the retaining means for the cushioning blocks in detail.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the body of the tie consisting of a bottom 2 having formed at its side edges the upstanding side walls 3 which incline RAILROAD-TIE.

Patented Dec. 26, 1.916.

Application fi1edApri128,1916. Serial No. 94,198.

inwardly toward their upper edges and are connected by the top wall 4. i This top wall 41s formed with a plurality of diagonally extending grooves 5 which are arranged to increase the tractivequalities of the tie and formed near opposite endsof the tie, are the enlarged portions 6 which are positioned directly beneath the rails for reinforcing the tie at the point on which the greatest strain comes. Formed interiorly of the top wall of the tie extending inwardly therefrom are suitable stop lugs 7 which are in such a position as to prevent the cushioning blocks from moving into the side beyond a precletermined point.

The enlarged portions 6 of the tie are formed with transverse rail slots 8 which are arranged substantially centrally thereof and these rail slots extend downwardly into the side walls of the tie for a short distance so that the rails when seated on the cushioning blocks will not engage the side walls and will thus get the entire cushioning effect of said blocks. Formed at the lower edges of the transverse rail slots 8 and extending inwardly into the tie are the looking lugs 9 the inner faces of which are inclined as at 10 so that the widest portion of said lugs is at the inner part of the tie. These lugs thus form wedges which engage opposite side walls of the cushioning blocks and firmly hold the same in place. The

cushioning blocks used in connection withthe tie are best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and are designated by the numeral 11 and it will be seen that they are cut to fit the ends of the tie and when being placed into position are driven inwardly from the opposite end so that the side faces thereof are engaged by the lugs 9 and when the blocks have been driven home so that they engage the stop lugs? it will be seen that the fibers of the blocks will be compressed by the lugs 9 and will slightly expand at the rear of said lugs thus looking the blocks in place.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a particularly simple and easily constructed tie is provided in which the cushioning blocks are firmly held against possible accidental removal and in which the resilience of the ordinary wooden tie is combined with the advantages of the metallic tie in such a manner as to obtain the maximum efliciency of the whole.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is A railroad tie comprising an elongated hollow body, enlargements at opposite ends of the body, said body being provided with transversely extending rail slots, the slots extending down into the side walls oft-he body for a short distance, cushioning blocks positioned within opposite ends of the body and beneath the rail slots to form sup Copies of this patent may be obtained for ports for railroad rails, lugs on the interior of the body tolimit the inward movement of the blocks, inwardly extending wedge shaped lugs "formed integrally with the body at the lower terminals of the slots in the side walls of the body, the last named lugs being adapted to engage inthe sides of the cushioning blocks to hold said blocks in place.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL V. TROUPE.

Witnesses: a

FRED E. OvRoNn, E. G. LEWISON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. a 

